1. Early Life and Education
Irina Kalinina was born on February 8, 1959, in Penza, Soviet Union. She pursued higher education at Penza State University, where she graduated in 1980 from the Faculty of Physical Education, which was part of the V.G. Belinsky Pedagogical Institute.
2. Sports Career
Irina Kalinina had a distinguished career as a competitive diver for the Soviet Union, achieving numerous national and international accolades throughout the 1970s and early 1980s.
2.1. Early Career and Olympic Debut (1973-1976)
Kalinina's talent in diving was recognized early, leading to her selection for the Soviet national diving team in 1973. In September of that same year, she competed at the 1973 World Aquatics Championships held in Belgrade, where she secured a bronze medal in the 10 metre platform event. Her early international successes continued, and at the 1974 European Aquatics Championships in Vienna, she earned two silver medals, one in the 3 metre springboard and another in the 10 metre platform.
Her progress culminated in her debut at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. There, she placed seventh in the 3 metre springboard event and fourth in the 10 metre platform, demonstrating her competitive presence on the world stage. In 1975, at the 1975 World Aquatics Championships in Cali, Kalinina achieved her first World Championship gold medal in the 3 metre springboard, along with a silver medal in the 10 metre platform.
2.2. International Success (1977-1980)
The period from 1977 to 1980 marked the peak of Kalinina's international success. In 1977, at the 1977 European Aquatics Championships in Jönköping, she added two bronze medals to her collection, one each in the 3 metre springboard and 10 metre platform events. The same year, she dominated the 1977 Summer Universiade in Sofia, winning gold medals in both the springboard and platform events.
Her exceptional performance continued at the 1978 World Aquatics Championships in West Berlin, where she achieved a remarkable two gold medals, triumphing in both the 3 metre springboard and 10 metre platform events. This made her a three-time world champion. In 1979, at the 1979 Summer Universiade in Mexico City, she won a gold medal in the 3 metre springboard and a silver medal in the 10 metre platform.
The pinnacle of her career came at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, where she won the gold medal in the women's 3 metre springboard competition, solidifying her status as an Olympic champion. Following her Olympic triumph, she competed in the 1981 European Aquatics Championships in Split, where she earned another bronze medal in the 3 metre springboard.
2.3. National Championships and Retirement
Beyond her international achievements, Kalinina was also a dominant force domestically, accumulating 20 prize-winner titles at the USSR Championships. She worked as an athlete-coach for the USSR national diving team from 1972 to 1984.
Irina Kalinina officially retired from competitive diving in 1984. Her transition from professional athlete to coach was documented in a film titled "And all over again, every time" (Russian: И снова все сначала, каждый раз), directed by T. Chubakova, which was filmed in 1984 at the Central Studio for Documentary Film.
3. Coaching Career
After her retirement from active competition in 1984, Irina Kalinina transitioned into a coaching role. She began working as a teaching coach at the Specialized Children and Youth Sports School of the Olympic Reserve in Penza. Her dedication and expertise in coaching were officially recognized when she was honored with the title of Honoured Coach of Russia.
4. Personal Life
Irina Kalinina is married to Valery Bazhin, who was also a diver and achieved the title of World-Class Master of Sports of the USSR. Like his wife, Valery Bazhin is also an Honoured Coach of Russia. Their daughter, Nadezhda Bazhina, has followed in her parents' footsteps, becoming a distinguished diver herself. Nadezhda Bazhina is recognized as a World-Class Master of Sports of Russia, a European champion, and competed in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
5. Legacy and Recognition
Irina Kalinina's lasting impact on the sport of diving is commemorated through various forms of recognition. Since 1988, an annual diving competition has been held in Penza, her hometown, in her honor. This event celebrates her contributions to diving and provides a platform for new generations of divers.